Bitter comeback for Vero Volley Monza: Piacenza spoils the party
Vero Volley Monza’s return to the Opiquad Arena after three weeks away from the home court did not produce the result hoped for by the Brianza lineup. In the advance match of the eighth day, Gas Sales Bluenergy Piacenza took a clear victory 0-3 (23-25, 23-25, 17-25). Monza showed good continuity in the first two partials, staying hooked in the score until the decisive exchanges, but without being able to concretize the opportunities. Piacenza, on the other hand, was able to make an impact in the key moments, standing out on serve with 6 aces and maintaining higher percentages in attack.
Piacenza’s attack found in Ramazan Efe Mandiraci the main point of reference: the setter was elected MVP thanks to 22 points scored. For Monza, Luka Marttila and Martin Atanasov were the only two players to reach double figures. Before the start of the match, captains Thomas Beretta and Robertlandy Simon read a message shared by the two teams to support the campaign against violence against women, an initiative promoted by Lega Pallavolo Serie A, FIPAV and Legavolley Femminile.
In the post-match, setter Jan Zimmermann commented on the performance, pointing out the initial balance and the decline in the third set, highlighting Piacenza’s greater effectiveness on serve. At the start of the match Monza had proposed a lineup with three setters, deploying Marttila along with Atanasov and Röhrs, while Piacenza responded with the set-up led by Porro and Bovolenta. The first set saw continuous ball changes, with Monza ahead in the final before the opponent’s comeback.
In the second set Monza initially created a margin thanks to the wall, but Piacenza gradually sewed up the disadvantage, being more precise in the final exchanges. The third partial showed greater control by the visiting team, able to maintain a constant lead and take advantage of Brianzoli errors. The final 17-25 sanctioned the Emilian success. For Monza, the focus now shifts to the next engagement with Civitanova, an opportunity to seek continuity and restart after the home stop.
